Eternal moment! Our films are always there

　　A decade is very short in the long history, just like a drop in the ocean, as well as a scene in the film. A decade is very long as well for every passionate climber in the industry. Every step they have taken means a lot to the industry. And this year marks the first decade of the Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF).

　　It takes 9 years for the BJIFF to attract worldwide attention to Beijing, a city where a great number of films have been produced. Now, at the 10th anniversary milestone, Xu Tao, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Chief Editor of Beijing Radio & Television Station an Executive Deputy Secretary General of the Organizing Committee of the 10th BJIFF, delivered a speech at the "Decade-long Devotion to Films — BJIFF 10th Anniversary Forum", where she described how a film turns from a momentary work into an eternal art. She said, “Just as dreams are never absent, our films are always there!”

　　The edition this year is very special due to its 10th anniversary and people's long parting from cinemas after the outbreak of COVID-19. However, during this period, films never left us alone as evidenced by the coming of the 10th BJIFF.

　　Among the films to be screened in the Beijing Film Panorama, Xu recommended two of her favorite films: My People, My Country, a gift for the nation to celebrate its 70th founding anniversary, and Cinema Paradiso, a masterpiece by Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore. Both films are about how an eternal moment is created.

　　My People, My Country selects 7 major moments in the history such as the eve of the founding ceremony of the nation in 1949, the day of Hong Kong's return in 1997, and the evening when the Chinese national women's volleyball team won three successive championships in 1984. Each moment in the film is impressive and touching.

　　After the little protagonist Toto in Cinema Paradiso illuminated by the light and heat of the camera, he begins his lifelong journey in the film industry.

　　Those moments will never be forgotten by people for its shortness. On the contrary, those, which gather the essence of life, will become eternal moments.

　　Also, on its decade-long journey of the BJIFF, there were a lot of special moments, which have been remembered by the people. Xu was indulged in her memory, “We still remember the day of the opening ceremony of the 1st BJIFF where 21 presidents of international film festivals gathered. We will never forget that the President of the Venice International Film Festival said after arriving at the Beijing Capital International Airport, 'I have felt the warmth and hospitality of Beijing since I arrived here." We also remember when the Annual Film Best Contribution Award was granted to Li Xuejian at the 2rd BJIFF, he just said, "Be a good actor and a good man." At the Awards Ceremony of the 5th BJIFF, Luc Besson, President of the 5th BJIFF, hugged Jackie Chan like a child, yelling 'The BJIFF is so good, I will come back again!' Also this year, we will remember that within just 10 minutes right after ticketing started, 70% of the tickets were sold out."

　　As our tradition, on the last day of the Beijing Film Panorama, the screen will show "See you next year, BJIFF". Now, she knows that many film fans leave the cinema only after seeing these words. Some will burst into tears, some will cheer and applaud. That is the eternal love of the BJIFF for all movie fans, which has lasted a decade.

　　This year the BJIFF offered a special gift- Outdoor Screenings to present one film after another under the starry sky. Just like the kind projectionist in Cinema Paradiso, who projects images to the wall of the square, Outdoor Screenings will invite the audience to enjoy a journey of light and shadow under the starry sky. Xu hoped that everyone could sit on the bench with a fan on hand, drinking soda water to return to the naive past.

　　That is the moment of films, also the eternity of films.

　　Xu said, "A long time consists of numerous short moments. If short moments mean something, they can change one's life. Everyone can watch the best films from around the world in Beijing. That is the everlasting love letter, promise and appointment of the BJIFF for all movie fans worldwide."

　　The story of the BJIFF will never end if there are films, filmmakers and love. In this way, moments of light and shadow will constitute the eternity.